Single hand operated card punch



Dec. 23, 1947.

H. GARDNER 2,433,] 10

' SINGLE HAND OPERATED CARD PUNCH Filed Dec. 22, 1945 HY'MAN GARDNERINVENTOR.

AT TORNE Y Patented Dec. 23, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,433,110:SINGLE HAND OPERATED CARD PUNCH Hyman Gardner, Brooklyn, .N. Y.Application December 22, 1945, Serial No. 636,902

p 2 Claims. (01. 164-436) This invention relates toa card-punchingdevice which is remoyably attachable to a table or other support.

An object of this invention is to provide an easily manipulated cardpunching device which 15 particularly adapted for use in restaurants forpunching holes in customers checks to indicate the amount owed by thecustomer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a card punching devicehaving means for operat-in the punching tool by using one hand only, andhaving means for automatically returning the operating mechanism to itsinitial position after use.

Another object of this invention is to pivotally mount the punching toolcarrying casing and to position the casin at a favorable angle, so thata card to be punched may be readily placed in the device by the fingersof one hand of the user and the device operated by the same hand forpunching and with a single downward motion.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention will behereinafter more particularly described, and the combination andarrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims which form part of this specification.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals ofreference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the card punchin device, partly brokenaway to show the interior operating mechanism.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the numeral l indicatesa card punching device, comprising a, support I I having a C-shapedbracket l2 for detachably securing the punching device It to a table orcounter.

The C-shaped bracket l2 has a thumb screw 13 threaded therein. At theupper end of the thumb screw I3 is a collar I4 which comes intoengagement with the counter.

The support II has a hollow upper end and an end wall H5 in which isthreaded a screw [1.

A locknut l8 threaded on the screw I! serves for locking the screw. Theinner end of the screw I? is formed to provide an obtuse angular cavityor substantially V-shaped fulcrum 19,

An elongated hollow casing is pivotally mounted on a pin 2| fixedtransversely of the support H The casing 20 may thus be moved up anddown to and from the support I l.

The support II has a central opening 22 which terminates at its upperend at the side '23 and at its lower end at the side 24.

The up and down movements of the casing 20 are limited by the sides 23and.

A punching tool 25 is slidably mounted in a carrier 26 which is suitablyfastened in the interior of the casin 20 by a screw 27. The carrier 26has a slot 28 extending therethrough in a crosswise direction. The slot28 is positioned in the path of the punching tool 25 and is adapted forreceiving a card 30 to be punched. The

lower surface 3! of the slot 28 extends some distance below the punchingtool.

As shown in Figure 1, a coil spring 32 is mounted on the punching tool25 and positioned between an end of the carrier 26 and a pin 33 whichpasses transversely of the punchin tool .25.

Alink-like connecting member 34 has one of its ends pivotally connectedwith the pin 33. The other end 35 of the link-like member .34 isknifeshaped and in the form of an acute angle. This angular end portionof the member 34 seats in the fulcrum l9.

It is to be noted that in the arrangement shown, the spring 32automatically retains the operating mechanism 36 in a raised position sothat the upper surface 371 of the'casing 2!) is in contact with the sidewall 23 of the support H.

In the position shown in Figure 1, the operating mechanism'tt ispositioned at a favorable angle, so that a, card 30 to be punched may bereadily placed in the device by the fingers of one hand of the user andthe device operated for punching the card with a single downward motion.

support H, The arrangement shown makes it possible to actuate theoperating mechanism 36 with a very light downward pressure.

It is to be noted that the nut l8 may be unthreaded to permit the screwI! to be adjusted so as to bring the cutting end of the punching tool 25in position to clear the slot 28 and be ready for immediate punchingoperation.

As best shown in Figure 1, the lower face portion 38 of the hollowcasing 20 has a rib 39 integral with the casing and extending betweentwo vertical side walls of the casing. A plate 40 is pivotally mountedat the lower face 38 on a screw 4| which is threaded in the rib 39.

The plate 40 covers the entire distance between the rib 39 and the outerface 42 of the casing. The plate 40 forms a closure so that of thecasing 20 provides a collecting chamber 43 in which chips from thepunched cards collect. When the chamber 43 is filled with chips, theuser swings the plate 40 sideways so as to empty the contents of thechamber 43.

The support 45 has a hollow upper end 41 in which a pin 48 is fixed in ahorizontal plane. A hollow casing 49 is pivotally mounted on the pin 48.

A punching tool 50 is slidably mounted in the casing 49. The free end ofthe tool 50 has a roller rotatably mounted thereon on a pivot 52. A coilspring 53 is mounted on the punching tool 50 and reacts against a collar54 integral with the tool 50 and provides pressure whereby the roller 5|forcibly contacts an abutment 55 at the central portion of the support46.

It is to be noted that the upper portion of the abutment 55 is angularlydirected so as to cause the casing 49 to be automatically retained in araised position as limited by a sidewall 56 at the upper elevation ofthe support 46.

When the operating mechanism 51 is lowered, its downward motion islimited by the lower side 58 of the support 46.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described and illustratedthe preferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood thatvarious changes and modifications can be made therein without departingfrom the spirit the lower portion of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A card punch having in combination, a support having means fordetachably securing to a table, a hollow casing pivotally mounted for upand down movement on said support, and having a chip collecting chamber,a punching tool reciprocally mounted in said casing, said casing beingformed with a slot in the path of said punching tool for receiving acard to be punched, said card being received in cutting position at thelower surface defining said slot during the entire movement of saidcasing and said plunger into operating position, said casing having alink like connecting member for moving said punching tool, one end ofsaid connecting member being pivotally connected to said punching tool,a substantially V-shaped fulcrum in said casing below said pivot, theother end of said connecting memher being knife-shaped and seating insaid fulcrum, said punching tool being thereby actuated when said casingis moved downwardly to said support, and a spring moving said punchingtool into retracted position and said casing upwardly into inoperativeposition.

2. In a single-hand operated card punch, in combination, a supporthaving means for detachably securing to a table, a hollow casingpivotally mounted on said support and having a chip collecting chamber,a punching tool reciprocally mounted in said casing, said casing beingformed with a slot in the path of said punching tool for receiving acard to be punched, said card being received in punching position at thelower surface defining said slot prior to and during the entire movementof said casing and said plunger into operating position, said casinghaving a link-like connecting member for moving said punching tool pastsaid slot when said casing is moved downwardly to said support, one endof said connecting member being pivotally connected to said punchingtool, a substantially V-shaped fulcrum in said casing below said pivot,the other end of said connecting member being knife-shaped and seatingin said fulcrum, said punching tool and said connecting member beingpivotally mounted in obtuse angular relation with each other, a coilspring mounted on said punching tool causing said punching tool to moveinto retracted position and said casing to move upwardly intoinoperative position, said fulcrum being threadably mounted in saidcasing to cause a regulated pressure on said spring.

HYMAN GARDNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 989,058 Rumney Apr, 11, 19111,863,901 Gormley June 21, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date205,741 Great Britain Oct. 25, 1923 8,066 Great Britain Mar. 31, 1915

